NY toughens math, English testing for grades 3-8

(AP) - Scoring well on New York's standardizedtests in math and English just got tougher.

After a review by experts, the state Board of Regents isrequiring students in grades three through eight to answer morequestions correctly to be considered proficient in the subjects. Inrecent years, more New York students qualified as proficient evenas their performance on national standardized tests was stagnant.

Next week, schools will get the results of tests administered inthe spring under the new scoring system.

State Education Commissioner David Steiner says Monday that someNew York students judged proficient in the state's tests weren'tprepared for college and needed remedial help.

Almost a quarter of students in two- and four-year colleges inNew York now take remedial classes.